Tech Tip: Often Overlooked Delivery Point Validation (DPV) Fields
The Delivery Point Validation, or DPV, Vacant and DPV, No Stat fields are populated during CASS™ encoding, and will indicate if an address is vacant and/or if mail is not currently being received at that location. Both of these fields are frequently overlooked by mailers when evaluating their CASS results because, after CASS encoding, these addresses will appear deliverable based on the usual go-to Z4 fields; they will have a 9-digit ZIP Code™, Return Code = 31, and can be mailed at an automation rate. It is only the DPV Vacant and DPV No Stat that will identify if any of these addresses are vacant, making these fields an important reference for preventing return mail.
Both fields will indicate if an address is vacant and/or if mail is not currently being received at that location. Often, these fields will catch vacant addresses that appear deliverable, making them even more significant.
DPV Vacant is a Y/N field, telling you if the address is flagged as vacant despite being a valid USPS® address. In order for an address to be flagged as vacant, it would need to be:
- Not occupied for 90 days or more
- Not receiving mail delivery
- Flagged as unlikely to become active – meaning it is not a business or residence under new or temporary construction
DPV No Stat is also a Y/N field, that identifies addresses that are recently vacant for reasons such as new construction or if the house or building has been recently demolished. Addresses that are flagged as No Stat means:
- Not occupied for 90 days or more
- Not receiving mail delivery
- Flagged as temporarily inactive – Meaning it is a business or residence under new and/or temporary construction
DPV Vacant and DPV No Stat information is available through CASS in BCC Mail Manager™, and any Data Marketing Services that includes CASS. The fields would need to be added to the record layout prior to processing for CASS to append a Y = Confirmed or N = Not confirmed. We recommend reviewing any address flagged as a Y because this is a strong indicator that it maybe undeliverable, even though CASS may give the address a Return Code = 31 and DPV Confirmation = Y.
For further information, please contact the Data Marketing Services department at 1-800-337-0372 or Customer Support at 1-800-624-5234.
